The Gahagan (Goaghan, Geoghegan, Goghan, Gaughan etc) Surname in the Griffith's Valuation, County Mayo, Ireland

The County Mayo Griffith's Valuation was conducted between the years of 1855 and 1857.

The Surname Gahagan and its variations (Goaghan, Geoghegan, Goghan, Gaughan) were present in 20 different Civil Parishes in County Mayo when the Griffith's Valuation was conducted plus Castlemore and Kilcolman (Costello Barony) Civil Parishes that were both later transferred to County Roscommon in 1898. There were numerous Goaghans in Attymass, Geoghegans in Kilmainemore, Kilmore, Castlemore, Kilcolman (Costello Barony), Crossboyne, Doonfeeny and Aghagower. The Surname Gahagan was present in Kilcolman Civil Parish (Costello Barony), there were Goghans in Doonfeeny and Kilcommon Civil Parishes, and Gaughans in Achill, Addergoole, Attymass, Ballynahaglish, Burrishoole, Crossmolina, Kilbelfad, Kilcommon, Kilfian, Kilgarvan, Killala, Killasser,Kilmore, Kilmoremoy, Oughaval and Toomore. (Griffith, 1847-1864; 2003, Mayo).

I will be including all of the variations of the Gahagan Surname in these records such as Gaughan, Gehegan, Geoghegan, Goaghan, Goghan etc., Two Civil Parishes, Kilcolman and Castlemore (both in Costello Barony) that were transferred to County Roscommon in 1898 will also be included in this section. Although the Surname Goggin is not listed as a variant of these Gahagan Surnames, I am including it in this compilation because many people could not read or write, and many parish priests spelled the names and Townlands phonetically. The Surname Goggin is very similar phonetically to Gaughan. The Surname Goggin was present in four Townlands in County Mayo when the Griffith's Valuation was conducted: Ballinrobe, Cong, Kilmainemore and Kilconduff.

Griffith's Valuation documents individual parcel occupiers in each Civil Parish and Townland. I have organized them by Civil Parish and further by Townland within each parish. I will be creating a Gahagan Surname (and its variations) Distribution Map after I work my way through the Griffith's Valuation for County Mayo. This will provide a better understanding of where the Gahagans in these Civil Parishes were located. The website Ask About Ireland has a great section allowing you to search the Griffith's Valuation. They even have maps that zero in on the occupied land, which you might want to take a closer look at.

There is one caveat to keep in mind when looking at these findings from the Griffith's Valuation: The Griffith's Valuation only includes the individuals (occupiers) who own, lease or rent a parcel. For instance it will list a householder but not the individuals who live with him. It was common in County Mayo for individuals to share parcels, particularly of land (The Rundale system of communal land sharing). Sometimes the whole town shared one parcel of land. Shared parcels may or may not be with related individuals. Just because an individual is a lone occupier of a parcel does not mean that he is living in (house) or tilling (garden) this parcel alone. He may have numerous family members living with him, but they will not be listed unless they actually lease or own the parcel. Occupiers who sublet their acreage of land or houses to others will be listed as landlords.

Surname Gahagan (Goaghan, Geoghegan, Goghan, Gaughan etc) listed by Civil Parish

Achill Addergoole Aghagower Aghamore Aglish Annagh
Ardagh Attymass Balla Ballinchalla Ballinrobe Ballintober
Ballyhean Ballynahaglish Ballyovey Ballysakeery Bekan Bohola
Breaghwy Burriscarra Burrishoole Castlemore Cong Crossboyne
Crossmolina Doonfeeny Drum Islandeady Kilbeagh Kilbelfad
Kilbride Kilcolman, Clanmorris Barony Kilcolman, Costello Barony Kilcommon-Erris (many here!) Kilcommon near Crossboyne (Kilmaine Barony) Kilconduff
Kilcummin Kildacommoge Kilfian Kilgarvan Kilgeever Killala
Killasser Killedan Kilmaclasser Kilmainebeg Kilmainemore Kilmeena
Kilmolara Kilmore (many here!) Kilmoremoy Kilmovee Kilturra Kilvine
Knock Lackan Manulla Mayo Meelick Moorgagagh
Moygawnagh Oughaval (New) Rathreagh Robeen Rosslee Shrule
Tagheen Templemore Templemurry Toomore Touaghty Turlough